Three-Track Zero Clearance Paver

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to concrete paving apparatus and methods for modifying concrete paving apparatus.

2. Background of the Invention

Generally, when applying a concrete slab to a road surface using an outboard tracked slip form paver, the road surface must be of sufficient width to accommodate the slab and a track path on each side of the slab for track travel. The width of a particular track path generally is equal to that portion of the outboard track extending the greatest distance beyond the respective slip form. Thus, the dimension between the outer edge of the track path and the respective outer edge of the concrete slab applied by the paver is the offset or clearance requirement of the paver.

In some instances, a vertical abutment may border the road surface to be paved such that the outboard tracks can not travel upon or straddle the raised structure. In these instances, any of various complicated procedures must be followed to complete the paving operation.

The method and apparatus of the present invention provide an improved paving apparatus capable of simultaneously applying a concrete slab of substantial width over the surface to be paved and directly against a vertical abutment.

The apparatus of this invention includes a three-track slip form paver having a paving assembly secured to a rigid frame. The paving assembly comprises an open side, devoid of a slip form, extending outwardly from the single track side of the frame and beyond the single track. The paving assembly further includes a single slip form secured to the two track side of the frame.

In operation, the open side of the paving assembly is positioned adjacent the abutment such that concrete material conveyed along the open side is deposited directly against the abutment. As the present invention eliminates the clearance requirement inherent in most outboard track pavers, the apparatus of this invention may be referred to as a zero clearance paver.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a prior art four-track slip form paver.

FIG. 2 is a schematic end elevational view of the prior art paving apparatus shown in FIG. 1 applying concrete to a prepared road surface.

FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom plan view of the prior art paving apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic fragmented perspective view of a side of a three-track slip form paver constructed in accordance with the invention. PG,4

FIG. 5 is a schematic front elevational view of the paving apparatus shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic top plan view of the paving apparatus shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a schematic bottom plan view of the paving apparatus shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a schematic rear elevational view of the paving apparatus shown in FIG. 4 applying concrete onto a prepared road surface and against a vertical surface.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a four-track slip form paver 10 comprising a rigid, rectangular frame 12 having a front end 14, a rear end 16, a first side 18, and a second side 20. The four-track slip form paver 10 further comprises four track assemblies 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d. The track assembly 22a is secured to a corner 23a of the frame 12 formed by the intersection of the rear end 16 with the first side 18. The track assembly 22b is secured to a corner 23b of the frame 12 formed by the intersection of the front end 14 with the first side 18. The track assembly 22c is secured to a corner 23c of the frame 12 formed by the intersection of the front end 14 with the second side 20. The track assembly 22d is secured to a corner 23d of the frame 12 formed by the intersection of the rear end 16 with the second side 20.

Each track assembly comprises a mobile ground support structure 24 and a telescoping leg 26 secured to the mobile ground support structure 24 for adjusting the height of the four-track slip form paver 10 above the prepared road surface 27. Each mobile ground support structure 24 comprises an endless track 28 powered by a hydraulic motor 29 for propelling the four-track slip form paver 10 in a desired direction along the prepared road surface 27. Each track assembly further comprises a support arm 30 for securing the respective telescoping leg 26 to the frame.

The four-track slip form paver 10 further includes a paving assembly 31 secured to the frame and extending from the first side 18 of the frame 12 to the second side 20 of the frame 12. The paving assembly 31 includes a first slip form 32 (FIG. 2) secured to a first paving assembly side 33 of the paving assembly 31 at the first side 18 of the frame 12, and a second slip form 34 secured to a second paving assembly side 35 of the paving assembly 31 at the second side 20 of the frame 12. In operation, as shown in FIG. 2, a concrete slab 36 is generally applied to the prepared road surface 27 between the first slip form 32 and the second slip form 34 of the four-track slip form paver 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the paving assembly 31 further includes an auger 37, mounted between the first paving assembly side 33 and the second paving assembly side 35 for spreading concrete to be laid across the paver 10. Additionally, the paving assembly 31 has a hopper 38 containing the auger 37 and extending across the paving assembly 31 between the first paving assembly side 33 and the second paving assembly side 35; a profile pan 40 disposed behind and extending the length of the hopper 38; a float pan 42 disposed behind and extending the length of the profile pan 40, and a plurality of vibrators 44 disposed between the auger 37 and the profile pan 40.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4 through 7, and in accordance with the present invention, the four-track slip form paver 10 is converted to a three-track slip form paver 10a by removing the track assembly 22d secured to the corner 23d of the four-track slip form paver 10. The hydraulic motor 29 (see FIG. 4) previously associated with the removed track assembly 22d is left in the hydraulic circuit containing all of the track motors, but is supported on the three-track slip form paver 10a such that hydraulic fluid may be circulated therethrough when the three-track slip form paver 10a is operated.

An extrusion aperture 46 is provided in a portion of the hopper 38 at the second paving assembly side 35 for conveying concrete material from the hopper 38 outwardly of the second paving assembly side 35 rearward of the mobile ground support structure 24 associated with the track assembly 22c.

The second slip form 34 is removed from the second paving assembly side 35. Thus, the second paving assembly side 35 may be referred to as the open side of the paving assembly 31 and the first paving assembly side 33 having the first slip form 32 secured thereto may be referred to as the closed side of the paving assembly 31.

A hopper extension 48 is secured to and extends outwardly from the second paving assembly side 35 such that the hopper extension is rearward of the mobile ground support structure 24 associated with the track assembly 22c and in alignment with the extrusion aperture 46 for receiving concrete material dispensed outwardly therefrom. The hopper extension 48 comprises a side plate 50 having a pair of oppositely facing depending front and rear plates 52 and 54 respectively. The front plate 52 and the rear plate 54 are of sufficient dimension such that the side plate 50 extends beyond the mobile ground support structure 24 associated with the track assembly 22c. The hopper extension 48 has a vibrator 44a disposed therein and secured to an inner surface of the front plate 52.

A profile pan extension 56, extending the width of the hopper extension 48, is secured to the frame 12 in transverse alignment with the profile pan 40. Support assemblies 58 and 59, secured to the second paving assembly side 35, are attached to the profile pan extension 56 and provide additional support for the profile pan extension 56.

A float pan extension 60, extending the width of the profile pan extension 56, is secured to an end of the float pan 42 adjacent the second paving assembly side 35 such that the float pan extension 60 is in transverse alignment with the float pan 42.

In operation, (see FIG. 8) the three-track paver 10a is positioned such that the side plate 50 of the hopper extension 48 is adjacent a vertical surface 62, such as the side of an abutment 64. Upon movement of the three-track slip form paver 10a on the track assemblies 22a, 22b, and 22c, the hydraulic motor 29 previously associated with the removed track assembly 22d idles. As the three-track slip form paver 10a moves forward, concrete material deposited ahead of the three-track slip form paver 10a contacts the auger 37. The auger 37 moves the concrete material into the hopper 38 such that a portion of the concrete material is urged through the extrusion aperture 46 and into the hopper extension 48. The vibrators 44 and 44a evenly spread the concrete material under the profile pan 40 and the profile pan extension 56 between the first slip form 32 and the vertical surface 62. In this way, the concrete slab 36 is applied over the prepared road surface 27 between the first slip form 32 and against the vertical surface 62 of the abutment 64.

Once the concrete slab 36 is applied as described above, the three-track slip form paver 10a may be converted back to the four-track slip form paver 10 by removing the float pan extension 60, the profile pan extension 56, the vibrator 44a, and the hopper extension 48. The second slip form 34 is reattached to the second paving assembly side 35 and a plate (not shown), sized for overlying the extrusion aperture 46, is secured to the second paving assembly side 35 covering the extrusion aperture 46. The track assembly 22d is reattached to the corner 23d of the frame 12 and the hydraulic motor 29 previously supported on the three-track slip form paver 10a is reattached to the track assembly 22d.

Changes may be made in the construction, operation, and arrangement of the various parts, elements, steps, and procedures described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.